Buyer's Guide: Best $500 Rod and Reel Combos!

$500 Combos are the best "Bang For The Buck" in the entire industry! Some of these rods should be priced hundreds of dollars higher but thankfully, they remain very affordable. If you're looking to take your angling to the next level, any of these rod and reel combos will help you do it. From the Shimano Expride's incredible sensitivity, to the Megabass Orochi's incredible actions, there is something at this price point for every angler!

Every time you move up in price, you gain sensitivity and longevity. The jump in quality from $400 combos to $500, is the biggest increase at any price point in bass fishing. Some of these rods skip right over the middle and function as truly high-end rods. You won't find a more sensitive rod than an Expride without spending $400 or more! You won't find more refined components than on an Orochi at nearly any price. And you won't find more dialed, technique specific actions, than on the IMX-Pros. 

Below you'll find links to the 6 lines of rods we recommend, along with all of our top choices by technique. All of the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 


Previous Buyer's Guides... 

-$400 Combos: https://bit.ly/3lSfwwz

-$200 Combos: https://bit.ly/2USSCJv

-$100 Combos: https://bit.ly/37aupED


Upcoming Buyer's Guides... 

-High End Combos

-Swimbait Guide


TOP 6 COMBOS...  

-Shimano Expride: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

-Shimano Chronarch MGL: http://bit.ly/2n8DghB

Favorite Models-  6'10" Medium, 7'2' MH, 7'3" XH, 7'6" Heavy


-Megabass Orochi XX: http://bit.ly/2OSVNwH

-Shimano Curado 70 MGL K: https://bit.ly/3jdrMqa

Favorite Models- Braillist, Extreme Mission Type F


-G Loomis IMX Pro: http://bit.ly/2lVATTC

-Shimano Curado 200K: http://bit.ly/2tHewEh

Favorite Models- 845 CBR, 906 CBR, 966 Swim, 812 SBR


-St. Croix Legend Tournament: http://bit.ly/2Ap51x5

-Shimano Tranx 200A: http://bit.ly/2Tv0yCy

Favorite Models- Big Cranker, 7'4" Medium Heavy


-Savage Gear Black Ops: https://bit.ly/35Qfcc7

-Shimano Curado 150 DC: http://bit.ly/2yHtsp4

Favorite Models- 7'1" Medium heavy, 7'3" Medium Heavy

-Dobyns Champion XP: http://bit.ly/29OVD4V

-Shimano Tranx 200A: http://bit.ly/2Tv0yCy

Favorite Models- 805 CB, 807 Mag, 806 Heavy

TOP MODELS BY TECHNIQUE... 


Jerkbait- Shimano Expride 6'10" Medium: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Lipless- G Loomis IMX Pro 845 CBR: http://bit.ly/2og0BmK

Chatterbait- Shimano Expride 7'2" Medium Heavy Glass: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Dropshot- Megabass Orochi XX WhipSnake: http://bit.ly/2XkVoej

Ned Rig- Shimano Expride Spinning 6'10" Medium Light: http://bit.ly/2osaj3q

ShakyHead- Shimano Expride 7' Medium: http://bit.ly/2osaj3q

Heavy Flipping- Shimano Expride 7'11" XH: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Light Flip- Shimano Expride 7'6" Heavy: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Tail Spin- G Loomis IMX Pro 843 CBR: http://bit.ly/2og0BmK

Blade Bait- Shimano Expride 6'10" Medium: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Keitech (4.8)- Shimano Expride 7'2" Medium Heavy: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Keitech (2.8)- G Loomis IMX Pro 862C SWBR: http://bit.ly/2x9kxuS

Jig (Pitch and Flip)- Megabass Orochi XX Braillist: http://bit.ly/2OSVNwH

Jig (Football)- Megabass Orochi XX Extreme Mission Type F: http://bit.ly/2OSVNwH

Big Swimbait- G Loomis IMX Pro 966 SWBR: https://bit.ly/3ktZFnF

Big Swimbait- Dobyns Champion XP 806/807: http://bit.ly/2aivwYX

Deep Crank (Tight Action)- G Loomis IMX Pro 906 CBR: http://bit.ly/2og0BmK

Deep Crank (Wide Action)- St. Croix Legend Tourn 7'6" MH Moderate: http://bit.ly/2Ap51x5

Deep Crank (10XD)- Dobyns Champion XP 805 Crank: http://bit.ly/29OVD4V

Squarebill- Megabass Orochi XX Flat Side Special: http://bit.ly/2OSVNwH

Spinnerbait- G Loomis IMX Pro 812 SBR: http://bit.ly/2QurcHi

Frog- Shimano Expride 7'3" Extra Heavy: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Topwater- G Loomis IMX Pro 843C MBR (7' Medium): http://bit.ly/2lVATTC


TOP REELS TO PAIR WITH... 

All Around- Shimano Curado 200K HG: http://bit.ly/2tHewEh

Cranking- Shimano Tranx 200 HG: http://bit.ly/2Tv0yCy

DC Performance- Shimano Curado 150 DC HG: http://bit.ly/2yHtsp4

Light Baits- Shimano Curado 70 MGL: https://bit.ly/3jdrMqa


NEW Tactical Bassin Apparel... 

TacticalBassin Hat: https://bit.ly/31EYB8W

TacticalBassin Reaper Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2TwBWs7

TacticalBassin Shadow Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2FVD9Rs

TacticalBassin Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/2TvFMBD

TacticalBassin Hooded Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/38cVi9G

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Buyer's Guide: High End Rods & Reels!

The Holiday Buyer's Guide continues with a look at some of the highest-end tackle on the market! Do you love nice tackle? Are you looking to up your game?! This video is for you!! 

We've already covered Entry Level to mid-range gear along with Rain Gear and Jig Fishing. It all culminates in this video on G Loomis, Megabass, Shimano, Daiwa, and more! Here are the rods...

Shimano Expride Casting Rods: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL
Shimano Expride Spinning Rods: http://bit.ly/2osaj3q

Preferred Models of Expride: 
-7'11" XH (AMAZING Flippin Stick), 
-7'3" XH (Lightest Frog Rod we've ever used!)
-7'2" H (Great all-around rod)
-6'10" M (Matt's Favorite Jerkbait Rod)
-7' M Spinning (Great all-around for Dropshot, Shaky Head, Tube, etc)
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G Loomis GLX Casting Rods: http://bit.ly/2gqziwT
G Loomis GLX Spinning Rods: http://bit.ly/2A6HH3O

Preferred Models of GLX...
-853C JWR (Tim's Dropshot, Texas Rig, light jig, small swimbaits)
-893C JWR (Great all-around rod for jigs, t-rigs, reaction, etc.)
-894C JWR (AWESOME jig Rod!)
-852S JWR (Tim's Favorite Senko Rod- Spinning)
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G Loomis NRX Casting Rods: http://bit.ly/2hedqsq
G Loomis NRX Spinning Rods: http://bit.ly/2dX9zjv

Preferred Models of NRX...
-852C JWR (Awesome Dropshot, Light Shaky Head, 2.8 Keitech, etc)
-853C JWR ( Shaky Head, T-Rig, Small Swimbaits, light jigs)
-894C JWR ( INCREDIBLE Jig Rod, Basstrix, Keitech, Swim Jig)
-822S DSR (Dropshot Spinning)
-822S SYR (ShakyHead Spinning)
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Megabass Destroyer Casting Rods: http://bit.ly/2wVOSbY
Megabass Destroyer Spinning Rods: http://bit.ly/2B7NyFj

Preferred Destroyer Models...
OneTen Special (Tim's Favorite Jerkbait Rod)
Daemos ( Spinnerbait, Chatterbait, other reaction baits)
Onager (Big Glidebaits & Soft Swimbaits, Incredibly light weight)
Addermine (Spinning Ultralight Presentations)
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Daiwa Steez SVF AGS Casting Rods: http://bit.ly/2mX8qwN
Daiwa Steez SVF AGS Spinning Rods: http://bit.ly/2Asd24a
Daiwa Steez Compile-X Casting Rods: http://bit.ly/2unTSJW

Daiwa Steez Models...
8' Compile-X (Amazing Flipping and Punching Rod!)
7'2" Med/Hvy (GREAT all-around rod for reaction, jigs, T-Rigs, etc)
7'1" Heavy (Heavy Paddletail Swimbaits, Jigs)
7' Med/Lt Spinning (Dropshot, Shaky, Tube)
7' Med/Lt X Fast Spinning (Dropshot, Ned, Ultra Finesse)
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G Loomis Conquest Casting Rods: http://bit.ly/2iL1PAY
G Loomis Conquest Spinning Rods: http://bit.ly/2BiGUNi

Conquest Rod Models...
7' Med (T-rigs, Topwater, Reaction, small swimbaits)
7' Med/Heavy (Jigs, T-Rigs, Reaction)
7'6" Med/Heavy (Small Glidebait, Jigs, T-Rigs, Pitch)
7'6" Heavy (Flipping, Small swimbaits, Frogs)
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High End Casting Reels We Recommend By Brand:

Shimano...
Antares- Heavy techniques/All around: http://bit.ly/2ha2zNI
Metanium MGL- All-Around: http://bit.ly/2ezIBfB
Aldebaran 50- Finesse + Light Reaction: http://bit.ly/2fdX1Uy
Conquest 300 Reel- High End Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2kheVEq

Daiwa...
Ryoga Shrapnel JDM- High End Swimbait: http://bit.ly/2B9H3St
Steez SV TWS- All Around Performance: http://bit.ly/2hNLdb2
Steez SV- All Around Braided line Applications: http://bit.ly/2iLyDdm

Abu Garcia...
Revo MGX- Finesse: http://bit.ly/2hen4eR
Revo MGXTREME2- Lightest Revo, Finesse: http://bit.ly/2Biu5mj
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High-End Spinning Reels By Brand:

Shimano...
Stella FI: http://bit.ly/2zT8C66
Sustain FI: http://bit.ly/2v5ovAm
Exsence 3000 (INCREDIBLY LIGHT): http://bit.ly/2iMtscV

Daiwa...
Steez EX: http://bit.ly/2Ats4Xh
Certate: http://bit.ly/2hjRZXg
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Preferred Line Choices...
Braided- MaxCuatro: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ
Braided- Sufix 832: http://bit.ly/2ae93Ji
Fluoro- Sunline Asassin: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm
Fluro- Seguar AbrazX: http://bit.ly/2aaBBDX
Mono- Maxima Ultragreen: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Protect Your Investment...
Reel Covers: http://bit.ly/2hMy1Dj
Rod Sleeves: http://bit.ly/2vnwYip
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